Bully Ray, a WWE Hall of Famer, has discussed the impending match between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre and has said that the Hell in a Cell match that is scheduled for their third meeting might not be the best option. WWE revealed on “WWE Raw” that their much-awaited third match will occur within the notorious cage system. With one victory in each of their prior meetings, there is a lot of excitement for this decisive match. Speaking on “Busted Open,” Ray counters that a different condition may better further their rivalry.
Ray was excited to see McIntyre and Punk square off against each other a third time, but he wasn’t sure the Hell in a Cell fight was the best fit for this specific plot. “I’m excited about the idea of a third match between Drew and Punk, and I’m definitely interested in seeing them in a gimmick match,” Ray explained. “However, I’m not convinced that Hell in a Cell is the most effective option for these two competitors.”
An “I Quit” bout, which Ray felt would better fit the personal nature of their feud—especially with the plot including a broken bracelet—was his alternate suggestion.Drew and Punk’s animosity is very personal to them. Seeing one individual declare in public that he is a quitter would be far more impactful and humiliating,” Ray argued.
Ray stated that a different story may be more interesting, even if he agreed that WWE’s decision to have a Hell in a Cell bout might be related to its significance—marking the anniversary of the match’s first Hell in a Cell between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker at Bad Blood in 1997. To build dramatic tension to the battle, Ray envisioned a storyline in which McIntyre threatens Punk’s wife, AJ Lee, and their puppy in an attempt to get Punk to quit. Co-host Dave LaGreca agreed, pointing out that the stakes would be far higher in such a situation.
Ray acknowledged that there might be opposition to this proposal, particularly from animal rights organizations. But he also offered an alternate that involved AJ Lee being threatened, using his own experience as an example of how such dramatic plots might be handled well. “A compelling plotline might be developed if Drew McIntyre threatens AJ Lee. Because of the danger I posed to Josh Alexander’s wife, I once forced him to plead for his title,” Ray said.